❖ What are my post-operative instructions?
• Have someone drive you home after surgery and help you at home for 1-2 days.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Follow balanced diet.
• Decreased activity may promote constipation, so you may want to add more raw fruit to your diet, and be sure to increase fluid
intake.
• Take pain medication as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin unless approved by your surgeon.
• Do not drink alcohol when taking pain medications.
• Even when not taking pain medications, no alcohol for 3 weeks as it causes fluid retention.
• If you are taking vitamins with iron, resume these as tolerated.
• Do not smoke, as smoking delays healing and increases the risk of complications.

• What should my activity level be?
  • You may shower 48 hours after surgery
  • Start walking as soon as possible, this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots.
  • Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications.
  • Discuss your time off from work with your surgeon; this varies according to surgery.• Activities involving the affected sites should be minimized for approximately 2 weeks.
  • Strenuous exercise and activities such as sports should be avoided for 3-4 weeks, depending on the extent of the surgery.
• How do I take care of my incision?
  • Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months.
  • Always use a strong sunblock, if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF 30 or greater).
  • Keep incisions clean and inspect daily for signs of infection.
  • No tub soaking while sutures or drains are in place.
  • You will be discharged wearing a pressure garment over the treated area. Most patients will wear pressure garment for 6-8 weeks.
  • Wear pressure garment 24 hours per day for 4 weeks.
  • After showering, reapply pressure garment and gauze to cover areas of incisions.
• What can I expect to feel?
  • The small incision sites will be covered with gauze to protect these areas.
  • Most of the swelling and discoloration usually subsides in 6-8 weeks, but some may persist for 6 months or more.
  • Expect temporary numbness, bruising, swelling, soreness, burning sensation, bleeding, pain and discomfort.
  • May have fluid drainage from incision sites.
  • A drainage tube may be inserted beneath the skin to prevent fluid buildup.
  • May feel stiff and sore for a few days. 

• It is normal to feel a bit anxious or  depressed in the days or weeks following surgery; but, generally, after about a week, you should begin to feel better.
• Bruising may be apparent beyond the  areas of liposuction, partially due to gravity.
• You will have small incision sites at the point of introduction of the instrument used to remove the fat tissue.
• A healthy diet and regular exercise helps to maintain your new figure.

• What follow-up care will I receive?
  • Any sutures are removed 7-10 days after surgery.
• When should I call my doctor?
  • If you have increased swelling or bruising.
  • If swelling and redness persist after a few days.
  • If you have increased redness along the incision.
  • If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.
  • If you have any side effects to medications; such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting.
  • If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees.
  • If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor.
  • If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure.
  • If you have loss of feeling or motion